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Acquisition of Institut Kirchhoff by Merieux NutriSciences

Sector(s)

Business Services / Food & Agro

Deal type

Buy a business

Date

May 2019

Countries involved

France / Germany

Client

Mérieux NutriSciences is the #2 worldwide player in the food testing industry. The company is dedicated to protecting consumers’ health throughout the world, delivering a wide range of testing and consulting services to the food & nutrition, agrochemicals, pharma and cosmetics industries

Deal

Parties

Lead team

Michel Degryck

Managing Partner
France

Ferdinand Robert Schulhauser

Partner
Germany

About the deal

Established in 1983 by Dr. Erhard Kirchhoff and employing 180 people, Institut Kirchhoff brings more than 30 years’ experience in food safety with a highly recognized scientific expertise in the German market and beyond. The company operates a Berlin-based accredited laboratory covering a surface area of 5000m2 (54 000 sqft) in which approximately 90 000 samples are processed every year.

Mérieux NutriSciences, a world player in food safety and quality for more than 50 years, is present in 23 countries through more than 100 laboratories. As part of Institut Mérieux, Mérieux NutriSciences offers analytical and product development solutions to prevent health risks related to food and more generally to the use of everyday consumer products. The company also offers digital solutions as part of its dedicated business unit.

Mérieux NutriSciences expands its footprint in Europe by entering the German food safety testing market with the acquisition of Institut Kirchhof. With the recent purchase of the German food labeling and regulatory business of Swiss Food, Mérieux NutriSciences will now offer a complete range of food safety services to the German food industry.

Mérieux NutriSciences has acquired all shares of Institut Kirchhoff Berlin GmbH. The company generated sales of about EUR 14 million in 2018 with very strong double-digit growth year on year.

What we did

Capitalmind has actively supported Mérieux NustriSciences during all the acquisition process: detailed market review of the German market to identify the best targets, drafting of LOI, sellers and acquirer team coordination, execution support during the Due Diligence phase (financial, tax, legal, business), valuation guidance, negotiation, legal documentation, etc.

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